Veteran reliever Moylan signs with Czech team

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Right-handed relief pitcher Peter Moylan, who pitched in 12 Major League seasons, is continuing his professional career in the Czech Republic with Draci Brno. The signing was first reported Thursday by Jan Jabrocky of the Czech-based media company Milujeme Baseball.

Moylan, 40, a native of Australia, spent nine seasons with the Braves (2006-12, '15 and '18) and pitched for the Dodgers (2013) and Royals (2016-17). After appearing in 499 MLB games (24-10, 3.10 ERA) but not receiving offers after a 2018 season disrupted by injury, Moylan told The Athletic last month that he planned to retire from MLB.

Nonetheless, he continued to prepare for the season, as demonstrated in a tweet from @PitchingNinja -- which identified him as “retired,” in tongue-in-cheek quote marks.

Moylan also told The Athletic he planned to pitch in Italy and to compete for the Australian national team.

On Thursday, Moylan's signing with Draci Brno became official. The Czech Extraliga, the country’s main professional baseball circuit, begins its season on March 29 and runs through August, before the European championships in Holland and an Africa/Europe Olympic qualifier in Italy. Moyland is expected to play for Australia in the 2019 Oceania qualifier for the Olympics.

Draci Brno, which has won 21 league championships since 1995, foreshadowed the signing Tuesday by tweeting a silhouette of Moylan.

The actual photo appears on the Wikipedia entry for Moylan.

John Hussey -- a fellow Australian, former Minor League teammate of Moylan's and the pitching coach and recruitment manager of Draci Brno -- told Milujeme Baseball: “He has a resume which would allow him to play anywhere in the world and we are excited he chose to be a Dragon and bring his experience to the Czech Republic. We were very patient waiting for the right addition to our pitching staff, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome Pete to the Draci organization.”

After reaching the Majors in his age 27 season in 2006, Moylan kept his career going through two Tommy John surgeries. Last season, he returned from the second operation and pitched in 39 games, finishing 0-1 with a 4.45 ERA.